Connie Roemer Bagenstos

The funeral service for Constance “Connie” Havighurst Roemer Bagenstos, 91, of Tracy, will be at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 15, 2018, at the Tracy United Methodist Church. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will take place at Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Slayton, MN. Constance Havighurst Roemer Bagenstos was born on January 28, 1927, in Cherokee, IA, the oldest of seven children born to Rev. Lawrence and Hilda (Campbell) Havighurst. The family lived in several small Iowa towns as Connie’s father served as a Methodist minister. She graduated from Ft. Dodge High School, then earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Morningside College in Sioux City before working as an elementary school teacher. On May 30, 1948, she was united in marriage to Robert W. Roemer in Ft. Dodge, and they started their family in Sioux City. She continued teaching for a time and later was a full time homemaker and mother. In 1958, the family moved to Currie where Connie became an active member of the community and the Presbyterian Church, volunteering in many areas when and where needed. After her husband’s death in 1972, she moved to Tracy where she also actively served the community and the United Methodist Church. Connie chaired the local school board and was appointed to the ECSU regional board. She was an avid reader and book lover, and for many years Connie worked as the town librarian. In 1988, she married her childhood friend, Bob Bagenstos, and the couple lived in Holstein, IA, where, again, Connie became an active community and United Methodist Church member. After Bob’s death in 1999, she moved permanently to her lake residence on Lake Shetek. Connie was a member of the Kiwanis in Tracy and Holstein, and a proud 73-year member of P.E.O. Most recently, she has been living at the Twin Circle Apartments in Tracy. All who knew this Christian lady of Grace were greatly blessed. Connie died suddenly on Thursday, September 6, 2018, at the Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD. She is survived by her children Bill Roemer (Koreen Ziemke) of Tracy, Jim (Jean) Roemer of Woodbury, Janet Roemer and Nancy Roemer, both of Richfield, and John (Mindi) Roemer of Minneapolis; step-children Thad (Deb) Bagenstos and Mary Jo (Doug) Ruffridge, both of Holstein; grandchildren Sarah (Derek), Liz, Christie (Mike), Dan, Scott (Marina), Emmi (Sam), and Maddi; step-grandchildren Wade (Libby), Brooke (Brian), and Abbie (Kelly); great-grandson Trent; step-great-grandchildren Tregg, Hadley, Kinsley, Briggs, Benson, and Elin; siblings Nancy (Ron) Smith, David Havighurst, Jon (Jane) Havighurst, Jeanie Tompkins, and Mark (Barb) Havighurst; brother-in-law Dave Duimstra; sister-in-law and special friend Janet Mischke; brother-in-law Hank Witt; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, beloved son Gene Lawrence, sister Emilie Duimstra, and in-laws Margie Havighurst, Steve Tompkins, Bud Mischke, Billie Jean (Chuck) Moore, Betty Witt, and Richard Bagenstos. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Habitat for Humanity or any public library. Saturday, September 15, 2018 1:00 PM